The words of the Uchiha were strikingly persuasive. Every sentence they spoke, Inuzuka Kōten understood all too well. The Uchiha clan needed allies—they needed to break through the political blockade of the Hokage faction. And by sheer coincidence, his own clan had been backed into a corner because of the hellhound summoning. There was no room left to maneuver.
The Uchiha elder had put it even more bluntly: "Anything that belongs to the Uchiha—there's no use begging the Hokage for it. No one can take it from us. If you're a friend, we'll share our wine and meat. If you're an enemy, then rot on your own. There's no such thing as standing on the sidelines."
This wasn't a banquet. Nor was it a negotiation. This was an ultimatum—a forced choice. Either side with the Hokage faction and wait for the clan to wither away, or stand beside the Uchiha and grow strong together, even if it meant being ostracized by others.
It was a simple choice: die now, or live painfully later.
Kōten sighed. "What the hell is there to choose?" He had already made up his mind. The moment he decided, the crushing weight on his chest lifted.
He raised his head, stood up, and took the wine cup in his hand. "The Inuzuka clan has always been friends of the Uchiha," he declared. "We are now, and we always will be. For the future of our two clans—I propose a toast."
Everyone immediately raised their cups in response and drank in unison.
The mood brightened again. The Inuzuka clansmen present clearly understood what had just transpired. But since there was no turning back, they cast off their hesitation. The Inuzuka were a boisterous, straightforward people—once the decision was made, there was no need to hold back.
Laughter, applause, and toasts filled the hall. Some even began playfully petting the great hounds beside them. The beasts wagged their tails in pleasure—these humans somehow always knew just the right spots to scratch. The atmosphere grew even livelier.
Uchiha Kairen quietly slipped out and sat on the rooftop, gazing up at the night sky.
"At last, we've made our move," he thought. "Good thing I came during the tail end of the Second Shinobi War. If it had been after the Nine-Tails incident, there wouldn't even be time to play this game of chess with the Hokage faction. The only choices left then would be betrayal—or flipping the whole table."
The board was still playable. The Uchiha's foundation was intact. He had been searching for leverage for his clan—and now, the scales had finally tipped slightly back in their favor.
But just adding weight to his own side wasn't enough. The gap was still too wide. The Hokage faction needed to lose some of its balance too.
"With Koharu dead, the upper ranks have shifted. The Turnip family's prestige is in ruins—never a strong clan to begin with, now they're little more than Sarutobi's vassals. Next step: eliminate Homura Mitokado. Break apart the triangle of power that Sarutobi Hiruzen has worked so hard to maintain. Force him and Danzō to face each other directly—with no mediators between them. Heh, that'll be a show worth watching."
The Uchiha had just secured a neutral family's allegiance. The Aburame clan, placed under Jiraiya's leadership, was clearly a political maneuver. That left only the Hyūga and the Shiranui—neither easy to win over.
"If we can't recruit neutral clans right now, we can still weaken the enemy. The timing should be about right… Heh, enjoy your heartwarming father-son moments while you can, old man. The next move in this game… is the killing embrace."
The next step of the Uchiha plan—"the Praise and Kill Plan."
Now, it was time to see how the Hokage faction would respond. They wouldn't act too aggressively. The village's "madwoman"—the one prone to radical action—was already dead. What remained were Homura the soft-spoken moderate, and the hypocritical Third Hokage. Even if Danzō tried to stir up chaos, there wasn't much he could do. At worst, he'd turn to propaganda, smearing the Uchiha's reputation.
But the overall trend of cooperation and integration between both sides would remain unchanged. Still, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the old fox—would likely feed Danzō just enough rope to keep him busy.
"Fugaku, my friend… looks like I'll need to give you a few lessons. Don't let little Yue turn into another Itachi. That would be a disaster."
Kairen chuckled. "Jiraiya's got his own kind of magic—his 'Talk no Jutsu' might as well be a family heirloom. The Third's 'Will of Fire,' Naruto's silver tongue—they could talk a man to death and convert the rest."
As Uchiha Kairen plotted the clan's next steps, news had already reached the Hokage's office.
"Earlier today, the Uchiha clan held a clan meeting at the Naka Shrine," an ANBU reported, holding a stack of documents. "During the meeting, they performed a summoning contract ceremony—what they called the 'Great Summoning Rite.' Afterward, the Uchiha leaders held a closed-door meeting. Details remain unclear.
"The summoned beasts are massive dogs—hellhounds, apparently. Only Sharingan bearers can summon them, and each shinobi can summon only one. These creatures were discovered by Uchiha Kairen's team, and seem to have a fondness for sweets.
"As for the Inuzuka clan—they've taken a devastating blow. Their ninja dogs can no longer leave the compound, likely due to bloodline suppression. In both size and ability, they are clearly inferior.
"The Inuzuka clan head was intercepted on his way to the Hokage's office and invited to the Uchiha compound instead. According to reliable sources, Uchiha's three elders and Uchiha Ieyasu personally received them at the gates.
"The two clans then held a grand banquet. Many Uchiha were seen bringing in food and drink to the Great Elder's residence. The atmosphere was… festive. Applause and laughter could be heard constantly. From the latest reports, it seems the Inuzuka have completely sided with the Uchiha, the gathering ending in harmony and cheers.
"Our assessment: it likely involves the summoning beasts."
The ANBU knelt and finished his report.
The Third Hokage nodded, commending the ANBU's diligence and instructing him to continue investigating—especially the meeting's internal content—before dismissing him.
Once the room emptied, only three people remained: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Homura Mitokado, and Shimura Danzō. The air was heavy with thought.
Homura was the first to speak. "Hiruzen, this isn't simple. Based on the report, the Uchiha's summoning beasts have huge untapped potential, and their synergy with Sharingan users creates an effect far greater than the sum of its parts. For the Inuzuka clan—whose entire lineage revolves around canine partners—this is a mortal blow.
"In the past, everyone minded their own business. You had yours; they had theirs. But now, the Uchiha possess something the Inuzuka can't replicate. Their hellhounds are superior in every way—making the Inuzuka's dogs effectively obsolete.
"The Inuzuka probably came to us for mediation, hoping for help. It could've been a golden opportunity to win them over. But the Uchiha blocked them, brought them into their fold instead, and seem to have succeeded. The Uchiha's motives are far from pure—we must reconsider our stance toward them."
Danzō's voice was sharp and cold. "The Uchiha have clearly coerced the Inuzuka into some form of concessionary pact. Their intent is hostile. We should intensify our suppression. Since the Inuzuka have chosen the Uchiha, they must bear the consequences—divide them, isolate them, and cut them off."
Hiruzen hesitated. Sanctions could derail the fragile balance they were trying to build. If they struck now—before any overt aggression from the Uchiha—it would only drive both sides further apart.
Just then, another ANBU entered. "Hokage-sama! The Uchiha and Inuzuka clans have just concluded their meeting and are on their way to the Hokage Tower. They've released a joint statement.
"Their agreement includes: the Uchiha will share summoning rights to the hellhounds with the Inuzuka, the two clans will jointly train a new generation of ninja hounds, and the Uchiha will provide logistical and medical support for canine units.
"They've also signed several accords, which they wish to present for your review and official ratification."
Danzō narrowed his eyes. "Hiruzen, this is open provocation. The Uchiha's ambition knows no bounds. We need to act immediately. Leave it to me—I'll make sure they regret this."
"Calm yourself, Danzō," Homura interjected sharply. "The Uchiha are merely showing they wish to integrate into the village. What they've done benefits everyone—it solves the Inuzuka's crisis and strengthens the village's combat potential. If we oppose this, how will that look to the people?"
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "The Uchiha have extended an olive branch. We can't crush that goodwill. Konoha belongs to all of us—there's no them or us, only we. We must stand united, not turn against our own. Danzō, let this matter rest. No rash measures."
"Hmph. Your lenience toward the Uchiha will cost you dearly, Hiruzen. You'll pay for your weakness and naïveté," Danzō spat, slamming the door as he stormed out.
When he was gone, Homura sighed. "Still, Hiruzen, even if their actions seem benevolent, we must stay cautious."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe and smiled faintly. "No need to worry. With Danzō watching them like a hawk… everything will take care of itself."
Outside, Danzō's lips curled into a cold grin.
"Uchiha… so this is your game, an open conspiracy. Clever. You've outplayed me this round—but don't celebrate yet. Let's see how long you last."